Eldora Mountain Resort is working with the U.S. Forest Service on proceeding with planned improvements amid swirling rumors concerning the ownership future of the Boulder County ski area.

Brent Tregaskis, the 1,200-acre resort's new general manager, who stepped into that role Sept. 23, responded last week to inquiries about rumors that the resort was for sale with a brief emailed statement: "Despite apparent rumors, Eldora has not been sold. Eldora continues to work with the Forest Service on our summer plans, which have not yet been finalized."

But the questions put by a reporter to Eldora management were not about a completed sale, but rather, persistent rumors that the resort is on the market.

Asked to specifically address talk that the resort was for sale, Eldora officials had no further comment.

One industry expert knowledgable about the Colorado ski business said that both Vail Resorts and the Park City, Utah-based Powdr
have been mentioned as possible Eldora suitors.

Each of those companies would say very little about any interest they might have in Eldora.

"As a publicly traded company, our policy prohibits us from commenting on speculation about possible acquisitions," said Russ Pecoraro, director of mountain communications for Vail Resorts.

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Mietra Beyer, vice president of marketing at Powdr, said, "At this point we don't have much to say. We would never really comment on any deals before they're done.

"As an adventure-lifestyle company, it's really no surprise that we would be caught up in the middle of this from a rumor standpoint, because we're constantly in pursuit of growing our portfolio with amazing partners."

Beyer added, "We are always trying to look to grow. We are always trying to look to find other companies and brands that align with us."

Powdr owns a collection of eight ski resorts from California to Vermont. It includes Colorado's Copper Mountain, Killington in the Green Mountains of central Vermont, and Mount Batchelor near Bend, Ore.

Doug Clyde, principal of Mountain Resort Consulting, which is based in the Park City Area, described Powdr as "eclectic" in the resorts which it pursues.

"Certainly, it's deal-oriented," Clyde said. "They're looking for good deals. Any deal's going to be based on existing earnings or future growth, one of the two."

One Nederland area resident and longtime observer of the resort and its operations said that he has heard rumors concerning a potential sale for two years. He believes some were driven at least in part by Eldora's expansion plans, and also its checkered success in proceeding with them.

'High value' on Middle Boulder Creek

Eldora, which opened 21 miles west of Boulder in 1961, has been engaged in a years-long attempt to expand by about 88 acres beyond its current boundaries. It has proposed an ambitious range of improvements it deems critical to competing in the statewide winter sports landscape, challenged as it is by factors ranging from the changing habits and tastes of consumers to the looming effects of climate change.

An Oct. 1 decision by the U.S. Forest Service effectively granted the resort half a loaf, green-lighting improvements that Eldora sought within its borders, but deferring a decision on improvements that would entail expansion on its northern and southern boundaries.

"Any future decision would result from the ski area and interested parties working collaboratively to resolve environmental and social issues," then-acting Forest Supervisor Ron Archuleta ruled.

Mike Chiropolos, a Boulder attorney representing both those groups on the Eldora matter, said he had heard nothing about any plans Eldora might have to sell. However, he said, issues such as preserving the riparian area and historical wildlife corridor on the resort's northern boundary will stay high on his clients' agenda.

"If there is a new owner, citizens groups look forward to working with the owner. And they need to know that the community and the local governments highly value Middle Boulder Creek and the cross country skiing experiences at the resort," he said.

And Chiropolos put in a plug, as he has before, for what many Eldora critics call an "in-fill" alternative, focusing on upgrades the resort can complete within its current borders.

"We think the surest route to a thriving, sustainable resort is improving within the existing footprint, improving facilities and the experience within the existing footprint," he said.

Surveying owls, and more

Eldora sent a letter to the Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests on Feb. 19 outlining work it intended to proceed with, which had been approved in last fall's Forest Service split decision.

That letter, from Eldora Director of Mountain Operations Paul Fillion, stated that the resort "is prepared to commence summer 2016 implementation of projects" given the nod by the Forest Service.

That includes about 26 acres of trail construction identified as trails C-1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 in the Corona Bowl area, plus about 25 acres of associated snowmaking.

Additionally, Fillion's letter proposed getting to work on replacing the existing fixed-grip quad Corona chairlift with a new detachable six-person chairlift.

Forest Service Boulder District Ranger Sylvia Clark responded to Fillion with an April 11 letter outlining a checklist of questions and issues to be addressed by Eldora before the planned work can begin.

Those include raptor surveys for potentially affected boreal and flammulated owls, more information on the timing of planned tree cutting and specific surveys relating to rare plants and wetlands.

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